The Breffni Half Set, Bailieboro, Co. Cavan, Ireland 1986

Frank Hall meets dancers in Bailieboro, County Cavan and learns about the half set.
A set dance is a folk dance where four couples are arranged on the side of a square, and a half set consists of two couples opposite each other.
Set dancing is descended from the quadrilles and cotillions originally danced in mainland Europe in the eighteenth century. Brought to Ireland by dancing masters as well as members of the British military these dances were adapted to suit Irish traditional music, and regional variants developed over time.
Packie Sexton and friends dance the Breffni Half Set accompanied by Vincent Tighe on accordion in Bailieborough.
He also demonstrates steps handed down to him by his father, who himself had learned them from an older generation.
There was always an awful interest in dancing around this part.
Dancing a set as a pastime is one thing, but dancing it at competitions these days is a completely different matter. Adjudicators at set dancing competitions are placing too much emphasis on appearance alone maintains Packie Sexton, and not the dance itself,
You have to give more marks on footwork, timing and tradition.
This episode of ‘Hall And Company’ was broadcast on 23 November 1986. The presenter is Frank Hall.

[@marykennedy9870]

Beautiful dancing the dancer made true points in a clear co cavan accent. Lovely to hear.

[@terencegorman4672]

Watching from Australian very nice and he has very good points on the scoring

[@johnnielson7676]

Not long after Riverdance hit, I heard that a young women didn’t even place in the top three at a feis here in Colorado because she didn’t have the proper hairstyle and dress even though she was clearly the best dancer by a long shot.

[@terencegorman4672]

@@johnnielson7676 Other coutures see Irish Dance and hear our music and are Impressed too want too learn it and yes we Irish are proud off a rich heritage music and Dance but a good book should never be judged by the cover alone Dance that is good does not need fancy coverings just love off what you are doing and skill the rest is packaging

[@johnnielson7676]

@@terencegorman4672 definitely true, Terence. Have the love of what you’re doing and skill - that’s what’s important 👍

[@sentimentaloldme]

Another great find..I'm sharing these with the Traditional Music Group on Facebook..Great stuff..The auld "Duke of Leinster" always gets a right belting at these set dance sessions. A great reel..

[@Lovecoffee971]

Again , anther classic of people i know and have now passed on , May they rest in Peace

[@JohnMullee]

This is gold and diamonds and all the rest

[@BruceVial]

Good man as always, great that some one is compiling this history. I thank you. Cheers

[@johnnielson7676]

Such great dancing and no fog machine, light show, silk shirts, velvet dresses and big curly hair and mullets. Just the Pure Drop itself with unadorned raw talent. The focus is on the dancing and music, not on the show and spectacle.
Great box playing! Who is it?

[@johnnielson7676]

@@danwebb4418 thanks!

[@Discover-Ireland]

Another fine video 👍

[@josephfoley8572]

Dose Vincent Tighe Have any Cds?

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Give them judicators hell, do not let through the door. Do not let them destroy your enjoyment of set dancing, Dance as you feel, Dance free, Dance and wear the leather souls of your shoes, Dance with the lord of dance, Dance Tae Yer Daddy O, Dance until the cows come. Do not let them judicators dance, tell them to get to keck out of town. judicators are nothing but spile sports, tell them to go and judge themselves